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Taiwo Ngo, DDS, and Kehinde Obeto, MD, have quite a few things in common: They’re both from Lagos, Nigeria. They both moved to Ohio to pursue careers in health care. And they both now provide care for underserved populations in the Toledo area. They’re also twins with strong family ties to health care. “While we were in Nigeria, our dad was a pediatrician,” Obeto says. “He’s passed now, but he had his own hospital where I worked part-time before I moved to the States.”

Tooth decay and gum disease can make it difficult to eat, talk, and concentrate. But the damage they do can go beyond our mouths. Oral health affects our overall health. Poor oral hygiene can raise the risk of several diseases elsewhere in our body, from diabetes to dementia. Fortunately, preventive care can help.

In just one school year, Blue Ridge Health in North Carolina has helped more than 1,200 children get the dental care they need through teledentistry. But that help comes with its challenges. “Internet connectiv . . .” says Ben Cozart, DDS, the dental director at Blue Ridge Health, cutting out, on cue, as he was explaining the program during a phone call.

Taiwo Ngo, DDS, has witnessed how medical-dental integration can help more people get the health care they need. “I had a patient — a child — that Dr. Obeto referred to me,” Ngo says. “And they didn’t call, and so I called [the child’s guardian] to make the appointment.”